Plum Hollow carries on Barnwell tradition

Stephen Smith plays with the Plum Hollow Band as the band practices Friday morning at the Moonshiners Reunion and Mountain Music Festival at Plum Hollow Farm in Campobello. The event continues until Sunday, Oct. 7.

MICHAEL JUSTUS/FILE

By LEENA DBOUKHalifax Media Group

Published: Friday, May 30, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 29, 2014 at 4:17 p.m.

One of the oldest annual music festivals in Spartanburg County is ready to dust off its stage and bring regional bluegrass musicians together, along with a touch of Southern heritage.

The 2014 Plum Hollow Festival, on the late Barney Barnwell’s farm at 5015 Rainbow Lake Road in Campobello, S.C., opened its gates to campers Thursday.

The festivities continue throughout the weekend with area favorites such as the Piedmont Boys, the Plum Hollow Band and South 85 performing different, yet entertaining, forms of alternative bluegrass Friday and Saturday nights.

The Plum Hollow Festival was started by Barney Barnwell, a former member of the Plum Hollow Band. Barney’s wife, Debbie Barnwell, with the help of her children and numerous volunteers, has continued the tradition since Barney’s passing in 2011.

“The festival was born out of some conversations between Barney and award-winning author Joe Dabney,” Debbie Barnwell said. “Barney and Joe shared a love for Southern culture and its preservation. So, Barney used the band’s name for the festival.

“Originally, the purpose for the Plum Hollow Festival was to help fund the Moonshiner’s Reunion and Mountain Music Festival we host here the first weekend in October. I tell people we grow music at the farm now.”

The origin story of the “Plum Hollow” band name demonstrates Barney Barnwell’s strong ties to Southern culture. The name originated from his family’s history of farming.

The Barnwells first grew and picked cotton, then, like many families in the Spartanburg area, moved on to peaches as the times changed.

“Later, his grandfather Burton began to run a liquor still on the creek bank, not far from where the stage is today,” Debbie Barnwell said. “Barney felt that this way of living from the depression era showed the determination and ingenuity of Southerners, and it should be remembered and celebrated.”

And, indeed, the festival dedicates itself to showcasing traditional music of the South with the primary focus being new and veteran alternative bluegrass talent in the region.

By being exposed to regional alternative bluegrass talent, festival attendees are treated to music that continues to reinvent itself while bands put themselves on the radar for music buyers, radio stations and record labels.

“Our festival is unique in that we’re self-sufficient,” Debbie Barnwell said. “We have our own band, recording studio on site, our own T-shirt and promotional product company, and we own our venue. So, we kinda do it our own way. Well, we really do it Barney’s way. We keep his dream alive. He was and is the mastermind behind all we do.”

Barney Barnwell’s dream was to leave the world a better place than the way he found it and to keep Southern heritage alive. Walking around the Plum Hollow Festival site gives you the feeling of Southern heritage, and it’s not just the fun, toe-tapping music playing in the background. It’s the lively vendors and soul cooked food.

“We have our very own concessions operated by Mr. Ted Cothran; he’ll be offering everything from hot dogs to barbecue. He also serves a great breakfast!” Debbie Barnwell said. “There is also a boiled-peanut vendor. We also have a couple of other vendors like the Fun Hut — they offer all sorts of trinkets and Plum Hollow memorabilia — and we have a jewelry vendor.

“There is a lot of socializing and campfire picking throughout the weekend, as well as some great storytelling. What happens here has to be experienced, it can’t be put into words. One person says it reminds him of the birds migrating home to the South.”

With Barney Barnwell gone, Debbie said the festival feels like a family reunion that grows a little each year.

“One of my most favorite memories since Barney passed away was seeing my son-in-law take the stage for the very first time playing Barney’s fiddle that I passed on to him,” Debbie Barnwell said. “He was like a son to Barney. That is one of my most favorite memories. I am so proud of him. If it weren’t for him, the music of Barney’s fiddle would have passed when he did.”

And music has maintained an important role in her life. For Debbie Barnwell, it’s another way of storytelling and making history.

“Sometimes you need it to keep you sane,” Debbie Barnwell said. “Barney always liked happy, toe-tapping music, something to make you smile.”

The Barnwell family continues to open its arms to music enthusiasts with its Plum Hollow Festival.

“We truly want people to come and have a good time.” Debbie Barnwell said. “We’re not a well-oiled machine by any means, but we make you feel safe to kick off your shoes and have a good time. So, come on down and take a little break from the stress of life.”

<p>One of the oldest annual music festivals in Spartanburg County is ready to dust off its stage and bring regional bluegrass musicians together, along with a touch of Southern heritage.</p><p>The 2014 Plum Hollow Festival, on the late Barney Barnwell's farm at 5015 Rainbow Lake Road in Campobello, S.C., opened its gates to campers Thursday.</p><p>The festivities continue throughout the weekend with area favorites such as the Piedmont Boys, the Plum Hollow Band and South 85 performing different, yet entertaining, forms of alternative bluegrass Friday and Saturday nights.</p><p>The Plum Hollow Festival was started by Barney Barnwell, a former member of the Plum Hollow Band. Barney's wife, Debbie Barnwell, with the help of her children and numerous volunteers, has continued the tradition since Barney's passing in 2011.</p><p>“The festival was born out of some conversations between Barney and award-winning author Joe Dabney,” Debbie Barnwell said. “Barney and Joe shared a love for Southern culture and its preservation. So, Barney used the band's name for the festival.</p><p>“Originally, the purpose for the Plum Hollow Festival was to help fund the Moonshiner's Reunion and Mountain Music Festival we host here the first weekend in October. I tell people we grow music at the farm now.”</p><p>The origin story of the “Plum Hollow” band name demonstrates Barney Barnwell's strong ties to Southern culture. The name originated from his family's history of farming.</p><p>The Barnwells first grew and picked cotton, then, like many families in the Spartanburg area, moved on to peaches as the times changed.</p><p>“Later, his grandfather Burton began to run a liquor still on the creek bank, not far from where the stage is today,” Debbie Barnwell said. “Barney felt that this way of living from the depression era showed the determination and ingenuity of Southerners, and it should be remembered and celebrated.”</p><p>And, indeed, the festival dedicates itself to showcasing traditional music of the South with the primary focus being new and veteran alternative bluegrass talent in the region.</p><p>The event's website states: “New Grass, Grunge Grass, Jazz Grass, Bluegrass Rock & Roll (and other grassy pastures not yet discovered) are all a part of Alternative Bluegrass.”</p><p>By being exposed to regional alternative bluegrass talent, festival attendees are treated to music that continues to reinvent itself while bands put themselves on the radar for music buyers, radio stations and record labels.</p><p>“Our festival is unique in that we're self-sufficient,” Debbie Barnwell said. “We have our own band, recording studio on site, our own T-shirt and promotional product company, and we own our venue. So, we kinda do it our own way. Well, we really do it Barney's way. We keep his dream alive. He was and is the mastermind behind all we do.”</p><p>Barney Barnwell's dream was to leave the world a better place than the way he found it and to keep Southern heritage alive. Walking around the Plum Hollow Festival site gives you the feeling of Southern heritage, and it's not just the fun, toe-tapping music playing in the background. It's the lively vendors and soul cooked food.</p><p>“We have our very own concessions operated by Mr. Ted Cothran; he'll be offering everything from hot dogs to barbecue. He also serves a great breakfast!” Debbie Barnwell said. “There is also a boiled-peanut vendor. We also have a couple of other vendors like the Fun Hut — they offer all sorts of trinkets and Plum Hollow memorabilia — and we have a jewelry vendor.</p><p>“There is a lot of socializing and campfire picking throughout the weekend, as well as some great storytelling. What happens here has to be experienced, it can't be put into words. One person says it reminds him of the birds migrating home to the South.”</p><p>With Barney Barnwell gone, Debbie said the festival feels like a family reunion that grows a little each year.</p><p>“One of my most favorite memories since Barney passed away was seeing my son-in-law take the stage for the very first time playing Barney's fiddle that I passed on to him,” Debbie Barnwell said. “He was like a son to Barney. That is one of my most favorite memories. I am so proud of him. If it weren't for him, the music of Barney's fiddle would have passed when he did.”</p><p>And music has maintained an important role in her life. For Debbie Barnwell, it's another way of storytelling and making history.</p><p>“Sometimes you need it to keep you sane,” Debbie Barnwell said. “Barney always liked happy, toe-tapping music, something to make you smile.”</p><p>The Barnwell family continues to open its arms to music enthusiasts with its Plum Hollow Festival.</p><p>“We truly want people to come and have a good time.” Debbie Barnwell said. “We're not a well-oiled machine by any means, but we make you feel safe to kick off your shoes and have a good time. So, come on down and take a little break from the stress of life.”</p>